Union part ways with head coach Jim Curtin
Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin gives the thumbs up prior to the first half of an MLS playoff soccer match against the New York Red Bulls, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Chester, Pa. The Union won 1-0 in extra time. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
The Union won just nine games this season, finished 12th in the Eastern Conference, and failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Now, they are moving in a different direction.
The club announced Thursday that they have parted ways with head coach Jim Curtin.
Curtin, one of the most reputable and successful coaches in the MLS, was signed through the 2026 season.
The 45-year-old Curtin has spent the last 11 seasons with the Union. He won Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2022. He led the club to their first piece of hardware in 2020 with the Supporter’s Shield for the best record in the MLS, and then an Eastern Conference championship in 2022. He fell just seconds away from an MLS Cup, as the Union lost in penalty kicks to LAFC in November of 2022. Curtin ended his tenure with a win percentage of 41.9%.
The Philadelphia-area native was the Big East Rookie of the Year at Villanova and played eight years in MLS before joining the Union in 2010 as a coach in its academy. He was later hired as head coach in 2014.
“Jim has been a remarkable leader and an integral part of our team’s success during his tenure,” Union owner Jay Sugarman said in a statement. “I have had the privilege to watch him grow into one of the top coaches in the league and deliver strong results and memorable moments that will be ingrained in our club’s history.
“This has been a difficult decision due in part to the immense gratitude and respect we have for him. We have no doubt he’ll find great success in his future coaching endeavors.”
You constantly see teams call scapegoats in disappointing seasons. The Union chose Curtin. However, when you spent a grand total of $0 to improve your team in the offseason like Sugarman and the Union did this past winter, you will not improve.
So, shame on Jay Sugarman, not on Jim Curtin.
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Benjamin Goldstein
Benjamin has been covering Philly Sports for Philly Sports Reports since 2017. He is a podcaster, writer, and founder of Philly Sports Reports. Benjamin is also an intern at the WBCB Sports Network on 1490AM. Through Philly Sports Reports, Benjamin has gotten the opportunity to meet Phillies owner John Middleton in his suite and be honored as the Philadelphia sports fan of the week for KYW News Radio. He hopes to be reporting on Philly sports as a full-time job in the future.
